(Suzhou, China)
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Sweden&aposs Annika Sorenstam overcame a five-shot deficit and a sudden-death playoff to win the inaugural Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China on Sunday. She produced a sizzling final round 7-under par 65 to finish at 13-under par total 203 alongside 1st and 2nd round leader Li Ying Ye of China. Australia’s Karen Lunn finished in a three-way tie for third with Denmark’s Amanda Moltke-Leth and Thailand’s Chutichai Porani.
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Ye had fired rounds of 65 and 68 to take a commanding lead into the final round where she was paired with Hall of Famer Sorenstam in a tough initiation to international golf. It became even tougher as Sorenstam reeled off four birdies in the first five holes to be just one stroke off the lead. It stayed this way through the turn and right up until the 16th hole where the Swede made birdie and Ye a bogey for a two-shot turnaround. However, Ye wasn’t finished yet and she drew level at the 17th with another birdie. The pair both made birdies at the last to finish at 13-under par apiece.
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Both players birdied the 18th again on the first playoff hole before Ye missed a short putt on the next hole to hand the title to Sorenstam, the 89th of her stellar career. After a long day, she said, “I had a good start and that’s what I wanted to do. I tried my best to apply the pressure but she never succumbed to it. This is my 89th career win and I’m so happy”.
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Lunn’s third place was her best finish on the LET since she finished tied 2nd at the 2003 La Perla Italian Open, however she was none too pleased with two bogeys on the home stretch, saying, “It was unforced errors and I should have done better. I missed a couple of close putts and though I’m in this position, I’m not happy with my play today”. She moved up to 41st on the money list to be the third ranked ALPG player behind Joanne Mills (17) and Lynn Brooky (30), who both missed the event in China.
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This event was tri-sanctioned between the LET, Ladies Asian Golf Tour and the China Golf Association allowing some players the first opportunity to play in such illustrious company. Bing Lim, who normally ply’s her trade on the FUTURES Tour was just one such ALPG player, and she certainly made the most of it; finishing in a tie for 17th at 2-under par total 214. Nicole Montgomery also made her professional debut in this tournament finishing a credible tied 21st at 1-under par. All ALPG Members who participated in this event made the cut with Sarah Oh and Frances Bondad being the next best in a tie for 27th at 1-over par total 217.
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The LET takes a break for a week before moving to Korea for the €220,000.00 Saint Four Ladies Masters in Jeju, to be staged on Jeju Island.
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